NumberFive

Hi everyone!

Last weekend, I was replacing the license plate frame the dealer put on, and noticed the screws were in the bottom two holes instead of the top 2. When I took the frame off, I could see why.

One of the license plate screws broke off inside the screw hole. I can't get a grip on the screw, since the broken part is smooth and in the recess.

Does anyone know how I might be able to get it out without damaging anything? Or is there an easy way to replace the plastic piece with a new one?

Thanks in advance.

Xx06SickspdTlxX

Well you would have to be careful and drill into the broken screw with a small drill bit and keep on going a little bigger until you reach about the diameter of the screw and without messing up the original threads too bad, then take a metric tap and dye kit and match up the screw size and thread size and rethread the whole and that should do it!

krravi

The best way is as mentioned above with a smaller dril bit. Now say you are drilling clockwise with a smaller bit, then take a bigger bit and do it anti-clockwise. This sudden change of rotation will loosed the screw and will come out. Had this done on a motorcycle once and the trick worked.

plaxcaart

There is actually a tool made for this purpose called an EZ out. (Various companies make them under different names.) The tool looks like a cone shaped coarse drill bit with the threads running lefthanded. To use an EZ out, drill a hole in the center of the broken screw or bolt; the hole should be no larger than 2/3 the diameter of the broken piece. Drill the hole about 1/4" deep. Now chuck up the closest size Ez out you have to the hole you drilled, set the drill to spin to the left or counter clockwise, and apply the EZ out to the hole. As you drill the EZ out bites into the broken piece and applies torque in an 'unscrewing' direction. Go slowly; you don't want to break off the EZ out in the hole. Be patient, perhaps squirt in some thread lube, and the broken piece will eventually back out.

Malayalee King

iTrader: (1)

cant you take the bumper off and get to the back? or even with the bumper on can you get to the back?

NumberFive

It's actually not in the bumper, the license plate is screwed into the front face of the trunk.

And thanks for the suggestions, guys. I'll try the EZ Out tool plax suggested first (that's probably sold at most hardware stores, right?). I wish tehre was a rep system in this subforum...

AdamNJ

something else you may be able to get to work...
try magnets. if you have one of those 'pencil sized magnet pens' (where that si a handle on one end, extendable bar in the middle, and magnet on the other end), you might be able to turn it enough to get a grip on it with pliers.

Malayalee King

iTrader: (1)

take trunk liner out? sorry havent seen 3G trunks, but offering suggestions

tenaciouscokie

I know that this is an old question, but I had to do this recently and found that using a dremel I could use circular saw and cut into stripped screw head enough to make new spot for flat head screwdriver. Hope this helps someone

Bearcat94

^^

Smart!!